Three things from DAH.

DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I'd prefer to feel in fine fettle. 

First up this week, Fun …  
Fun's been in short supply lately. I've been consoling myself by recalling past fun moments, to sustain me until I find more current fun. One moment that lingers: On the eve of UCDavis Picnic Day (an annual campus open house), a pop-up concert by alumni of the California Aggie Marching Band-uh! before its scandal-ridden disbanding. Invited by friends to a loosely organized block party, we were told that Band-uh! alumni would show up at dark. This seemed unlikely. There was no performance announced anywhere, no venue, no signage, nothing. "They do it every year," explained our friends. Sure enough, as darkness fell, scores of musicians carrying instruments suddenly filled the street, appearing out of nowhere, and gathering for a wild and wonderful performance. I've never otherwise experienced such surprising exhilaration and joy … fun that's now tempered by knowledge of the bad behavior of Band-uh! members. The piece linked below specifies three types of fun. To these I'd add a fourth: Something that was great fun at the time but is now tarnished.    
The Fun Scale

Second up this week, Funny …  
I grew up with English paperbacks titled Funny Ha Ha & Funny Peculiar and Funny Ho Ho & Funny Fantastic, authored by Denys Parsons.  They were compilations of headlines and stories from the newspapers around the world (or purported to be so). One page would have unintentional hilarity …  "Working single lady wants digs, must have bath; urgently" (Sheffield Star classified ad). The facing page would be bizarre rather than humorous … "World Bank says poor need more money" (Associate Press headline). I don't know if it was a particularly English delight, but my parents had lots of similar stuff. "Sandwiches sliced before your eyes" read the  butcher's shop window sign reproduced in one of several photo books of silly stuff. I'm feeling nostalgic for such simple amusement.
The English We Speak: Funny ha-ha or funny peculiar

Third up this week, Funning …  
I think of funning as a loving type of teasing. I don't know it that's a real definition, and I'm not going to look it up. I mean funning intended to provoke someone you care about. Provoking in a friendly way, like flirting, and it almost always requires reciprocal funning. I'm nervous writing about it because teasing is so often part of bullying, with the intention to hurt or upset or humiliate. Which is why I like the word funning. It's got to be gentle and kind. The aim is loving banter. I'm thinking about dogs a lot lately, and it's the feeling I have when a dog rolls on its back to expose its belly for some generous rubbing. A moment of vulnerability and familiarity. Some gentle funning with friends could be just one of those things to find me some current fun. 
Teasing Someone "Nicely" Is What Builds A Close Relationship

And a bit more:

Just One of Those Things by Cole Porter
(or, if you'd rather, Ella Fitzgerald performing the song)

As Dorothy Parker once said to her boyfriend,
"Fare thee well,"
As Columbus announced when he knew he was bounced,
"It was swell, Isabelle, swell,"
As Abelard said to Heloise,
"Don't forget to drop a line to me, please,"
As Juliet cried in her Romeo's ear,
"Romeo, why not face the fact, my dear?"

It was just one of those things,
Just one of those crazy flings,
One of those bells that now and then rings,
Just one of those things.
It was just one of those nights,
Just one of those fabulous flights,
A trip to the moon on gossamer wings,
Just one of those things.
If we'd though a bit
Of the end of it,
When we started painting the town,
We'd have been aware
That our love affair
Was too hot not to cool down.
So goodbye, dear, and amen.
Here's hoping we meet now and then,
It was great fun,
But it was just one of those things.

And that's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver’s poem Sometimes …  

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it. 

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